2021 NHL Draft Notebook: OHL Facts & Figures

 

A look at OHL facts and figures from the 2021 NHL Draft held July 23-24.

30 OHL players selected

• A total of 30 players who have played at least one game in the Ontario Hockey League were selected in the 2021 NHL Draft. This is one player less than the 31 selected in 2020, and six more than the 25 chosen in 2019.

Under-18 gold medalists selected

• Eleven OHL members of Canada’s gold medal-winning National Under-18 Team were chosen in the 2021 NHL Draft. (McTavish, Clarke, Othmann, Johnston, Stillman, Pinelli, Winterton, Gaudreau, Harrison, Del Mastro, Matier).

Future OHLers chosen

• A total of nine players who have made past commitments to OHL clubs were selected in the 2021 NHL Draft including Hamilton’s Artyom Grushnikov (48th overall, Dallas), Erie’s Alexei Kolosov (78th overall, Philadelphia), Flint’s Dmitry Kuzmin (82nd overall, Winnipeg), Kitchener’s Roman Schmidt (96th overall, Tampa Bay), Peterborough’s Brian Zanetti (110th overall, Philadelphia), Windor’s Daniil Sobolev (142nd overall, Montreal), London’s Liam Gilmartin (167th overall, San Jose), North Bay’s Matvei Petrov (180th overall, Edmonton) and Hamilton’s Chandler Romeo (202nd overall, Ottawa).

Northern Ontario talent

• Four players developed in the Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) were chosen last weekend including Sudbury’s Chase Stillman (29th overall, New Jersey), Sarnia’s Ben Gaudreau (81st overall, San Jose), Ottawa’s Jack Matier (124th overall, Nashville) and London’s Max McCue (156th overall, San Jose).

Team-By-Team Notebook:

Barrie Colts

• The selection of Brandt Clarke (8th overall, Los Angeles) gives the Colts the CHL’s longest active streak of consecutive years developing a first round pick for the NHL Draft. Clarke follows Tyson Foerster (23rd overall, Philadelphia – 2020), Ryan Suzuki (28th overall, Carolina – 2019), and Andrei Svechnikov (2nd overall, Carolina – 2018).

Flint Firebirds

• Brennan Othmann (16th overall, NY Rangers) follows Ty Dellandrea (13th overall, Dallas – 2018) as the second first overall pick in Firebirds history. He’s the first Firebirds player to be selected by the Rangers.

Guelph Storm

• Daniil Chayka (38th overall, Vegas) follows Dmitri Samorukov (84th overall, Edmonton – 2017) and Andrey Pedan (63rd overall, NY Islanders – 2011) as third Storm Russian defenceman selected in NHL Draft.

Hamilton Bulldogs

• Ryan Winterton (3rd round, Seattle) became the third player ever selected by the NHL’s expansion Seattle Kraken franchise. The Bulldogs have developed at least one NHL Draft pick in each of the six NHL drafts since entering the OHL.

Mississauga Steelheads

• Ethan Del Mastro (4th round, Chicago) becomes the first Steelheads player to ever be drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks, giving the Trout three consecutive years of producing a defenceman taken in the NHL Draft.

London Knights

• Having developed four NHL Draft selections (Mailloux, Roger, McCue, Montgomery) the London Knights climb into the CHL’s first place all-time with 188 players selected since 1969. Recently committed forward Liam Gilmartin (6th round, San Jose) also heard his name called last weekend. The Knights own the CHL’s longest streak of consecutive years with a player drafted, stretching that figure to 53 years in 2021.

North Bay Battalion

• Joe Vrbetic (7th round, Montreal) becomes the first Battalion goaltender drafted to the NHL since the team moved to North Bay in 2013-14. The last Troops player drafted by the Canadiens was defenceman Tyler Hanchuck (3rd round – 2000).

Ottawa 67’s

• Jack Matier (5th round, Nashville) became the first player in 67’s history to be drafted by the Nashville Predators.

Peterborough Petes

• Anaheim Ducks third overall pick Mason McTavish became the highest-drafted Petes player since Zach Bogosian (3rd overall, Atlanta – 2008). Other top-three selections in franchise history have included Jordan Staal (2nd overall – 2006), Eric Staal (2nd overall – 2003) and Chris Pronger (2nd overall – 1993).

Saginaw Spirit

• Tristan Lennox (3rd round, NY Islanders) is the Spirit franchise’s highest-drafted goaltender since Jake Paterson (3rd round, Detroit – 2012). He follows other Islanders prospects who have recently played for the Spirit in Bode Wilde, Blade Jenkins (5th round – 2018) and Cole Coskey (7th round – 2019).

Sarnia Sting

• Ben Gaudreau (81st overall, San Jose) became the first Sting goaltender selected since Ryan Munce (82nd overall, Los Angeles – 2003), becomes highest-drafted Sting goaltender since Patrick DesRochers (14th overall, Phoenix – 1997).

Soo Greyhounds

• Jacob Holmes (5th round, Dallas) gave the Greyhounds 15 consecutive years of at least one player chosen in the NHL Draft. He’s the first Hounds player selected by Dallas since eventual long-time NHL blueliner Trevor Daley (43rd overall – 2002).

Sudbury Wolves

• Chase Stillman (29th overall, New Jersey) follows Quinton Byfield (2nd overall, Los Angeles – 2020) to give the Wolves back-to-back first round NHL Draft picks for the first time since 2005 (Benoit Pouliot, Marc Staal) and 2006 (Nick Foligno).
• Stillman joins father Cory (6th overall, Calgary – 1992) to become the second first round NHL Draft pick in the Stillman family. Older brother Riley (4th round, Florida – 2016) and grandfather Bud Stefanski (9th round, NY Rangers – 1975) were also past selections.

Windsor Spitfires

• Pasquale Zito (6th round, Detroit) became the first Spitfires player to be drafted by the Detroit Red Wings since Adam Graves (22nd overall – 1986).